North Korea calls for ‘human shields’ to protect Kim Jong-un

North Korea has called on its people to rally behind new leader Kim Jong-un and protect him as ‘human shields’ while solving the issue of food shortages.

The three state newspapers in North Korea published a policy-setting editorial stating that Kim Jong-un, the son of former leader Kim Jong-il, has legitimacy to carry on the revolutionary battle initiated by his grandfather.

North Korea has called for its people to act as ‘human shields’ to protect Kim Jong-un (Getty)

KCNA, the state’s news agency, said: ‘Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of our party and our people, is the banner of victory and glory of Songun (military-first) Korea and the eternal centre of its unity.’

It added that the inexperienced new leader is ‘precisely’ the same as his father and claimed the party, the entire army and all of the people of North Korea should possess a conviction that they will become ‘human shields’ in defending Kim Jong-un unto death.

The editorial went on to say the food shortage in the country is a ‘burning issue’ that needs to be resolved in order to build ‘a thriving country’.

Many observers in Seoul say the editorial did not suggest any major new changes in social or economic policies but appeared to be sensitive over the issue of food in the nation.

The North has been relying heavily on outside aid and a recent UN report said the isolated communist state needs food assistance for nearly three million of its 24 million people in 2012.